Keyboard

ABSTRACT

A keyboard having a plurality of interposers each pivotally movable on a first path of travel between a neutral and an actuated position. In the actuated position a drive dog will drive each interposer rectilinearly to cause switch action and a return spring urges the return after the switching. Each of the interposers is operable by a key which will move the interposer from its neutral to actuated position upon depression. Each key is provided with a leaf spring which is so mounted that it will drive the interposer when it is depressed, but will yield against the return movement of the interposer on its return movement to allow the interposer to return to its neutral position even though the key is held depressed. Also a second set of keys may be provided which are movable to a second depressed position in which the leaf spring keeps the interposer depressed for repeat operation.

United States Patent 11 1 Bass et al.

[ KEYBOARD [75] Inventors: Michel Bass, North Plainfield, N.J.; Richard W. Pitman, Lafayette Hill, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio 22 Filed: Apr.23, 1971 [21] Appl.N0.: 136,931

52 us. Cl ...l97/l6, 197/98 [51] Int. Cl. ..B41j 23/02 [58] Field of Search, ..197/16, 98,17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1967 Palmer ..197/16-X 3,342,295 9/1967 Hishada.... ..197/17 3,592,313 7/1971 Castle et al. 197/98 X 3,578,133 5/1971 Schaefer ..197/98 3,348,648 10/1967 Frechette ..197/16 3,191,740 6/1965 Smusz et al ..197/98 X 111 3,722,65 l [451 Mar. 27, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader Att0rneyRussell L. Root and Ray S. Pyle 57 ABSTRACT A keyboard having a plurality of interposers each pivotally movable on a first path of travel between a neutral and an actuated position. In the actuated position a drive dog will drive each interposer rectilinearly to cause switch action and a return spring urges the return after the switching. Each of the interposers is operable by a key which will move the interposer from its neutral to actuated position upon depression. Each key is provided with a leaf spring which is so mounted that it will drive the interposer when it is depressed, but will yield against the return movement of the interposer on its return movement to allow the interposer to return to its neutral position even though the key is held depressed.

Also a second set of keys may be provided which are movable to a second depressed position in which the leaf spring keeps the interposer depressed for repeat operation.

5 Claims, Drawing Figures PATENTED MAR 2 71975 SHEET 10F 2 5 Y M w mmwv m aw SW A N MM 2 M m R PATENTEnmzms 3,722.651

SHEET 2 [IF 2 Mex/1 543s RICA 4R0 MdP/TMAN [NV TURS I 31252 jk ATTUENEY 1 KEYBOARD SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a keyboard is provided wherein there are a plurality of interposer members, each pivotally movable on a first path of travel between an actuated position and a neutral position. Drive means are disposed to drive the interposermembers rectilinearly on a second path of travel when in the actuated position to establish a preselected switch pattern. A set of keys is provided operatively associated with each of the interposer members, the keys being mounted for movement between a home position and an actuating position. Each interposer member and associated key has cooperating means to cause said interposer member to move from its neutral position to its actuated position and return .to its neutral position each time the associated key is moved from its home position to its actuating position so that a single drive actuation and hence a single type bar actuation occurs upon each depression of a keyto the actuated position.

The cooperating means include biasing means 28 normally urging each interposer member to the neutral position. Each interposer member also includes a shoulder formed thereon, and each key has an engagement arm 52 disposed to engage the shoulder and move the associated interposer member to the actuated position upon movement of the key to the actuating position. The shoulder is positioned to disengage the arm upon movement of the interposer member on the second path of travel and allow the interposer member to return to its neutral position under the urging of the biasing means.-

Further, the invention contemplates the provision of a second set of keys on the keyboard, being movable to both said print actuating position and also to a second actuating position which second position will maintain the interposer member in its actuated position to thereby allow repetitive drive actuation and hence provide repeating type bar action while the key is depressed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away for clarity, of a keyboard incorporating keys and their as- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and for the present to FIGS. 1 and 2, the keyboard of this invention comprises a main frame designated generally as 10, which is comprised of a pair of side plates 12 and 14, a cover plate 16, and a bottom plate 18, all interconnected to form a support structure. These four plates constitute the main support frame for the keyboard.

I slide interposer members 20. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, each interposer member 20 has at one end thereof an elongated end slot 22 which engages a rod 24 extending between the side plates l2 to thereby slidably and pivotally mount the interposer member (See FIG. 1). The opposite end of the interposer member 20 is provided with a hook 26 which engages a biasing spring 28 secured to a support rib 29.

Each of the interposer members 20 is provided with a plurality of code projection ears 30. As can be seen in FIG. 2, each of the ears 30 is operatively associated with a bail 19. It will be noted, however, that in certain locations there is no code projection ear associated with the given bail adjacent thereto. By providing'a selected number and position of ears a selected pattern of bails can be actuated to give a desired switch pattern foractuating the desired type bar.

The structure as thus far discussed and described is prior art. It is common practice also to provide a key for each of the operating slide interposer members 20.

In FIG. 2 of the drawing there are shown just two keys for illustrative purposes. In the drawing the keys appear to be associated with the same interposer, but a brake line B to theright of one of the keys clearly indicates that two aligned members 20 are in view. Hence, the portion of the member 20 to the left' of brake line B in FIG. 2 is labeled by the reference number 20a and the portion to the right is labeled as 20b. v

Depending from each of the interposer'members 20 is a dog 33, which is positioned to be operated by a filter shaft 34 having a pai'r of drive actuation lobes 36.

The interposer member 20 can be pivoted about the rod 24 from its neutral position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the dog 33 is spaced above the shaft 34 to an actuated position wherein the dog 33 will-be in position to be engaged by one of the drive actuation lobes'36 and when engaged will drive the interposer member 20 in a rectilinear path.

Operatively associated with each of the interposer members 20 is an actuating key, there being two sets of actuating keys, those keys of one set being designated as 40a, and those of the other set being designated as 40b. The keys 40a will provide only single actuation while the keys 40b will provide either single or repetitive actuation. The keys 40a and.40b are arrayed .in

and extending through slots 44a and 44b. A coil spring 48 surrounds each of the stems of the keys 40a and 40b and urges them to an upward position, as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the keys 40a and 40b is provided with an identical interposer actuation mechanism designated generally as 50. See FIG. 4.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the actuating mechanism 50 of each of the keys includes a leaf spring 52, which is secured onto the stem of the key by a tab 54. Each of the leaf springs 52 is provided at the upper end thereof with a laterally extending engagement arm 58. The spring 52 is resiliently movable within a groove 60 formed in the respective stem. The groove 60 is partially closed at one end thereof by means of a downwardly depending stop 62, which is disposed to engage the engagement arm 58 and prevent outward bending movement of the leaf spring 52 past the position defined thereby.

Disposed below each of the keys 40b only is a second leaf spring 64 which is mounted beneath the. bottom plate 18 and aligned with the bottom of the stem 42b of the key 40b. Also; the slot 44b is longer than slot 44a by OPERATION The operation of each of the keys can best be un- A shoulder 31 of the interposer member 20.. The key is urged upwardly to its home position by the coil spring 48 (not shown in FIG. 5) so that the bottom of slot 440 abuts against the guide bar 47 thus limiting the upward direction of movement of the key 400. When the key 400 is depressed from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6 the engagement arm 58 will engage the engagement shoulder 31 and cause a pivoting movement of the interposer 20 moving it downwardly as viewed in FIG. 5 from its neutral position to its actuating position. This downward-movement of the interposer 20 will cause the dog 33 on the lower side of the interposer member 20, to drop into position where it can be engaged by the filter shaft 34. The engagement of the dog 33 by the shaft 34 will clause the interposer to move to the left (as viewed in FIG. 6). Leftward movement of the interposer 20 will cause each of the projections 30 that is incontact with v Once the interposer 20 has moved sufficiently to the left to disengage from the engagement arm 58, the urge of coil springs 28 (See FIG. 2) will pull the interposer to the right and pivot upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 7. This movement will continue even though the key 40a is maintained depressed in its actuated position by the finger of the operator. Also, the application of finger pressure against the key will not depress the key any further, because the top of the slot 44:: is in abutment against the guide rod 47.

The return sliding and upward movement of the interposer 20 from the position shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in FIG. 7 will bend the leaf spring 52 into the groove as shown in FIG. 7, if the key 4021 is maintained in the actuated position as shown. Thus, the interposer is able to return to its original or neutral position after having been engaged once by the shaft 34, even though the key is maintained in its actuated position. Hence, upon depression of any of the keys 40a, a single actuation of the interposer 20 will take place even though the key is maintained in the depressed position, thus causing only a single actuation of the associated switches which in turn will cause only a single actuation of the associated type bars.

In order to reset the key the operator need merely remove pressure from the key 40a. The coil spring 48 (not shown but illustrated in FIG. 2) will drive the key up to its home position shown in FIG. 5. There the leaf spring 52 will return the engatement arm 58 to a position above the shoulder 31 ready to again actuate the interposer member 20 upon depression of the key.

The operation of the key 40b differs from the operation of the key 40a, in that it is possible to further depress the key to maintain the interposer 20 in its actuated position. Repeated actuation of the bails will result as long as the key is depressed. Further depression of the key is accomplished by merely making the slot 44b (FIG. 8) slightly longer than the slot 44a. Thus if the key 40b is depressed the same amount as'the key 40a to the actuated position, the action of the key 40b on the interposer member 20 would be identical to'the action of the key 40a on the interposer member. In order to allow the operator to determine this first position of actuation, a leaf spring 64 is so positioned and located that it will be struck by the bottom of the stern 42b at the position that would be occupied by the stem 42b at the position that would be occupied by the stem 42a of the key 40a in its fully depressed position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. This will provide a positive reaction force to the operator to indicate a proper single operation.

If it is desired to obtain repeat operation, the following is a cycle of operation:

l. The key 40b will occupy essentially the same position as the key 40a occupies in its home position shown in FIG. 5;

2. The key 40b is then depressed to an actuated position so that the engagement arm 58 would strike the engagement shoulder 31 and pivot the interposer member 20 to a position which corresponds to the position shown in FIG. 6',

3. This causes the drive actuation surface 36 of the filter shaft 34 to engage the dog 33 and move the interposer member 20 to the left. As previously described, this will then cause a disengagement of the shoulder 31 from the engagement arm 58;

4. If pressure is increased against the key 40b at this point in operation, the downward pressure will force against the bias of the leaf spring 64. The slot 44b is longer than the slot 44a, so it does not restrict the downward movement of the key 40b and it can continue downward movement to the position shown in FIG. 8 when the bias of spring 64 is overcome;

5. In this position, the engagement arm 58, after dis engaging from the shoulder 31, has moved downwardly and has engaged the upper engagement surface 32 of the interposer and caused to remain down in its actuated position.

One drive actuation surface 36 of the shaft 34 will engage the dog 33 each 180 of rotation. The continuous actuation of the shaft 34 will cause a repetitive actuation of the interposer and will thus repetitively actuate each of the switches actuated by the bails 19. This will then cause a repeat action of the output controlled by this key as opposed to a single action.

Once pressure has been removed, the key 40b can return to its home position under the urging of coil spring 48.

Hence it can be seen that virtuallyidentical keys and identical operating mechanisms are utilized to provide keys which are limited to a single action or keys which can provide a single or repeat action. Thus a keyboard can be easily changed or modified to allow any selection or combination of selection of keys limited to single action with keys which have single or repeat action merely by inserting keys having longer or shorter slots and adding a'leaf spring at the bottom when longer slot keys are used. Further, the keys are virtually identical in construction, and therefore can be stamped on the same machine, the only difference being in the size of the slot.

What is claimed is:

1. In a keyboard wherein there are a plurality of interposer members each movable on a first path between an actuated position and a neutral position, and drive means disposed to drive said interposer members on a second path of travel when in the actuated position, the improvement which comprises a set of key members, each key member being operatively associated with at least one of said interposer members, means mounting said key members for movement between a home position and an actuated position, each interposer member and associated key member having cooperating means to cause said interposer member to move from its neutral position to its actuated position and return to its neutral position each time the associated key member is moved from its home position to its actuating position, said cooperating means including biasing means normally urging each interposer member to the neutral position, a leaf spring carried by one of said members, said leaf spring being mounted for resilient movement in the direction transverse to the direction of the movement of the key member and rigid in the direction of movement of the key member, said leaf spring and the other member having a first pair of cooperating surfaces positioned to engage and drive the associated interposer member to the actuated position by movement of said key member to the actuating position, said first pair of cooperating surfaces being positioned to disengage upon movement of said interposer member on said second path of travel to allow said interposer member to return to its neutral position under urging of said biasing means, said leaf spring and said other member having a second pair of engagement surfaces disposed to push said leaf spring resiliently transversely to the path of travel of the key member upon movement of the interposer member back to the neutral position with the key member in its actuating position, said second pair of surfaces being positioned in non-engaging relationship with the key member in its home position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said one member has a grooved portion to permit yieldable movement of said leaf spring, and wherein said spring is mounted to move into said groove responsive to the return movement of said interposer member to said neutral position.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said leaf spring is mounted on the key member, and wherein said leaf spring is yieldably movable responsive to the return movement of said interposer member to said neutral position, and stop means to prevent yieldable movement of said leaf spring with said interposer member when said interposer member moves toward said actuated position on said second path of travel.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 further characterized by stop means disposed to limit the path of travel of said key to said actuating position.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said mounting means mounting said key for movement to a second actuating position, and said interposer member having an engagement surface positioned to engage said arm and maintain said interposer member in said actuated position when said key is in said second actuating position.

Patent No. 3,722,651 Dated March 27, 1973 Inventor s) Michel Bass and Richard W. Pitman It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, Line 27, numeral "52" should read "58".

Column 2, Line 8, the word "balls" should read "bails".

Column 4, Line 30, "engatement" should read "engagement".

Column 4, Line 48, the sentence "42b at the positionthat would be occupied by the stem" is repeated twice and should be stricken.

Column 5, Line 11, "and caused to remain"should read "and caused the interposer to remain".

Column 6, Line 47, "said arm and" should be cancelled and the words "the said cooperating surface of said leaf spring 2" should be inserted.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of July 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSI IALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PO-1050 (1069) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w us. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1909 0-366-334 

1. In a keyboard wherein there are a plurality of interposer members each movable on a first path between an actuated position and a neutral position, and drive means disposed to drive said interposer members on a second path of travel when in the actuated position, the improvement which comprises a set of key members, each key member being operatively associated with at least one of said interposer members, means mounting said key members for movement between a home position and an actuated position, each interposer member and associated key member having cooperating means to cause said interposer member to move from its neutral position to its actuated position and return to its neutral position each time the associated key member is moved from its home position to its actuating position, said cooperating means including biasing means normally urging each interposer member to the neutral position, a leaf spring carried by one of said members, said leaf spring being mounted for resilient movement in the direction transverse to the direction of the movement of the key member and rigid in the direction of movement of the key member, said leaf spring and the other member having a first pair of cooperating surfaces positioned to engage and drive the associated interposer member to the actuated position by movement of said key member to the actuating position, said first pair of cooperating surfaces being positioned to disengage upon movement of said interposer member on said second path of travel to allow said interposer member to return to its neutral position under urging of said biasing means, said leaf spring and said other member having a second pair of engagement surfaces disposed to push said leaf spring resiliently transversely to the path of travel of the key member upon movement of the interposer member back to the neutral position with the key member in its actuating position, said second pair of surfaces being positioned in non-engaging relationship with the key member in its home position.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said one member has a grooved portion to permit yieldable movement of said leaf spring, and wherein said spring is mounted to move into said groove responsive to the return movement of said interposer member to said neutral position.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said leaf spring is mounted on the key member, and wherein said leaf spring is yieldably movable responsive to the return movement of said interposer member to said neutral position, and stop means to prevent yieldable movement of said leaf spring with said interposer member when said interposer member moves toward said actuated position on said second path of travel.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 further characterized by stop means disposed to limit the path of travel of said key to said actuating position.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said mounting means mounting said key for movement to a second actuating position, and said interposer member having an engagement surface positioned to engage said arm and maintain said interposer member in said actuated position when said key is in said second actuating position. 